Nickname: “The Baby-Faced Assassin”
Birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Weight Class: Super Bantamweight / Featherweight / Super Featherweight
Stance: Orthodox
Professional Record: 67 – 7 (44 KOs)
Years Active: 1989 – 2011
Biography
One of Mexico’s most beloved champions, Marco Antonio Barrera combined textbook fundamentals with ferocious body punching. He captured world titles in three divisions and earned international acclaim through rivalries with Erik Morales, Naseem Hamed, and Manny Pacquiao. Barrera’s upset win over Hamed in 2001 remains a defining moment in modern boxing history.
In the Hobby
Barrera’s rookie cards mark the start of the late-1990s Mexican and Panini resurgence in global boxing collectibles.
Rookie & Early Issues
- 1996 Ringside Boxing (USA) – considered Barrera’s true rookie.
- 1997 Brown’s Boxing “International Stars” (USA) – early portrait issue.
- 2001 Panini Supersport (Italy) – first global card as a multi-division champion.
Registry Metadata
Earliest Issue: 1996 Ringside Boxing
Rookie Year: 1996
Key Sets: 1996 Ringside, 1997 Brown’s, 2001 Panini Supersport
Grading Rarity: Ringside PSA pop ≈ 40; PSA 9+ examples rare
Recent Notable Sales: 1996 Ringside (PSA 10) — $1,150 (2024)
Legacy
Barrera elevated technical Mexican boxing to new levels, blending pressure and precision. His 1996 Ringside rookie symbolizes the modern rebirth of Mexican greatness in the hobby.
